Device for thermal treatment of commodities packed in tins



30, 1957 J. B. VAN DER WINDEN 3,322,059

DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF COMMODITIES PACKED IN TINS Filed Dec. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. JOHANNES B. VAN DER WINDEN United States Patent 3,322,059 DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF COMMODITIES PACKED IN TINS Johannes B. van der Winden, Amstelveen, Netherlands, assignor to Gebroeders Stork & Cos Apparatenfabriek N.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 515,079 4 Claims. (Cl. 99-249) The invention relates to a device for thermal treatment, such as pasteurization or sterilization of commodities packed in tins. The device essentially comprises an overpressure steam chamber, provided with a discharge section with cooling fluid an endless conveyor being advanceable through this chamber and discharge section, the conveyor consisting of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, provided with carriers for a row of adjacent tins, the said conveyor in an area beyond the discharge section following a substantially horizontal track part. In such a device difliculties are experienced in view of the fact that it is desired to deliver dry tins therefrom. For that purpose it has been proposed to apply a warm air current, but it has appeared that the already completely cooled down tins and the carriers were diflicult to dry. In addition, moisture particles could penetrate through the folded seams of the tins under the influence of a vacuum developed within the tins owing to their cooling. These penetrating moisture particles could result in a deterioration (infection) of the tin packed commodities.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means by which perfectly dry tins can be delivered from the device so that a penetration of harmful moisture particles is prevented. It is a further object of the invention to provide means in the horizontal track part capable of spraying or clouding a heated liquid and directing these liquid particles towards the tins advancing along said track part and to provide means for subsequently jogging the adjacent tins in an upward direction. Due to these features the tins first can be sprayed with eg, water of a temperature of :85 90 C. to which a surface tension decreasing agent is added, so that the wall of the tin is just heated and the tin liquid layer can evaporate. Since the tins are jogged, any liquid remaining between the adjacent tins is re moved. If necessary, an air current can be applied in order to achieve a complete drying of the still warm tins.

The invention aims especially to improve a device in which the carriers comprise a plurality of profilated bars which are mutually spaced in the direction of transport and to provide means for jogging the tins consisting of at least one member which extends on the entire length of the profilated bars and which is disposed along the lower boundary of the horizontal track part of the conveyor, this member defining an acute angle with the direction of transport. The tins between the carriers when they are in the horizontal track part protrude to a small extent in a downward direction between the profilated bars, so that on passing by the said member each tin at a different time is jogged, whereby any liquid confined between the tins can flow down.

In some carriers on moving along a horizontal track a small quantity of moisture can gather in some corners; this could counteract the intention to deliver dry tins. It is an object of the invention to avoid this by providing means for slightly bending the pivotal connection between the links of the conveyor at a location in the horizontal track part succeeding the part where the tins are jogged.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a specific form in which the invention may be embodied.

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In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents in outline a side elevation of the lower part of the device.

FIG. 2 shows to an enlarged scale some details of the device.

Thedevice as partially represented in FIG. 1 may as far as its remaining (not shown) part is concerned be constructed as described in the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 513,864, filed on Dec. 14, 1965. It consists of an overpressure steam chamber 1 and a discharge section 2 with cooling liquid, an endless conveyor 3 being advanceable through this chamber 1 and the discharge section 2. The conveyor consists as appears more distinctly from FIG. 2 of a number of pivotally interconnected links 4, which are provided with carriers 5 for a row of adjacent tins 6. In FIG. 2 only the foremost tin of each of these rows is visible.

In the area beyond the discharge section 2 the conveyor passes through a substantially horizontal track por tion 7 which in this embodiment is situated on the lower side. For that purpose the sprocket wheel 8 at the extreme right (in FIG. 1) is positioned lower than the other sprocket wheels, so that between'the sprocket wheels 9 and 10 the entire horizontal track portion 7 extends. Provided at the location of the sprocket wheel 10 is a discharge station 11, while at some distance thereabove at the location of the sprocket wheel 12 a supply station 13 is situated.

The features of the present device are found in the horizontal track portion 7. In the first place, means 14 are provided there for spraying or clouding a heated liquid, and directing these liquid particles towards the tins 6 advancing along the track portion 7. These means 14 consist of a sprayer 15 to which via a duct 16 and a pump 17 a liquid, in this case water with a surface tension decreasing agent, is fed from a reservoir 18 with a heating coil 19. This reservoir 18 is positioned in the area under the spray nozzle 15, so that a regular circulation of the spray liquid, which is heated again and again, can be effected.

Furthermore, means 20 are provided in the track portion 7 for jogging in an upward direction the adjacent tins 6. These means 20 consist of some obliquely positioned rods 21, which extend on the entire length of the carriers 5, the latter, in conformity with the above mentioned co-pending application, in the shown embodiment being constituted by profilated bars 22 which are mutually spaced in the direction of transport. The rods 21 are slantwise positioned that is to say they make an acute angle with the direction of transport. The profilated bars 22 glide over these rods 21 whereby the latter jog the tins 6 which slightly protrude underneath the profilated bars. Due to the oblique position of the rods 21 the tins of a row are not simultaneously but successively jogged, so that the liquid confined between the front walls is capable of flowing down.

Means 23 succeeding the means'20 are provided in the track portion 7 to enable the conveyor 3 to be slightly bent at the location of the pivotal connection between the links 4. These means are constituted by a slightly raised part of the guide rails 24 for the chain links 4, the said guide rails for the rest lying flat. Due to this bend of the conveyor any liquid in a corner of the flange of foot of the profilated bars 22 can flow oft laterally.

Finally, means 25 are provided in the track portion 7 to pass an air current in a transverse direction through the conveyor 3. The means 25 consist of a blower 26 on the lower side of the track portion 7 and air being blown thereby from between the carrier 5. The air is caught by a sealing passage consisting of a hood 27 in which are provided two narrow ports 28 for the conveyor 3. In this way the air in the hood 27 is urged to flow towards 3 the right part of the hood (in FIG. 1) and therefrom for the second time across the conveyor 3 to an outwardly opening discharge aperture 29.

The various means 14, 20, 23 and 25 along the track portion 7 of the path of the conveyor 3 together insure that the tins 6 issuing from the discharge station 11 emerge in a perfectly dry condition. The carriers 5 with the tins 6 passing over the sprocket wheels 8 and 9 are practically fully cooled down at the moment at which they enter the track portion 7. The tins are, however, still moist and are now dried in the following way: by means of a sprayer 15 heated liquid from the reservoir 18 is sprayed or clouded on the carriers 5 and the this 6 passing by. The liquid e.g. water to which is added a surface tension decreasing agent has a temperature of 85- 90 C. Due to this spraying the walls of the tins 6 are heated, the contents of the tins, however, do not experience a rise of temperature which is worth mentioning. The liquid is distributed in a thin layer on the entire surface of the tins and due to the rise of the temperature it will soon evaporate.

During this evaporation process the carriers 5 move along the bars 21 whereby the tins 6 are jogged in an upward direction. In this way each row of adjacent tins 6 is momentarily opened so that liquid, if any, confined between the front faces of adjacent tins can escape. Subsequently the carriers 5 pass over the bend 23 in the guide path 24 so that any liquid resting in a corner of the profilated bars 22 can flow off.

Finally the carriers 5 pass through the ports 28 so that they are subjected to final drying by means of an air current 3 generated by the blower 26.

Due to the means described hereinbefore and provided in the track portion 7 fast drying and dry delivery of the tins 6 is insured. As a result, the vacuum produced in the tins 6 on account of cooling does not suck moisture particles into the tin through the folded seams.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for thermal treatment, such as pasteurization or sterilization of commodities packed in tins, the said device comprising an overpressure steam chamber having a discharge section with cooling fluid, an endless conveyor being advanceable through this chamber and discharge section, said conveyor consisting of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links provided with carriers for a row of adjacent tins, the said conveyor in an area beyond the discharge section following a substantially horizontal track part, means being provided in said horizontal track part for spraying or clouding a heated liquid and directing these liquid particles towards the tins advancing along the track, means for subsequently jogging the adjacent tins in an upward direction, said carriers comprising a plurality of profilated bars which are mutually spaced in the direction of transport, said means for jogging the tins consisting of at least one member which extends on the entire length of the profilated bars and which is disposed along the lower boundary of the horizontal track part of the conveyor, said member enclosing anacute angle with the direction of transport.

2. A device for thermal treatment, such as pasteurization or sterilization of commodities packed in tins, the said device comprising an overpressure steam chamber having a discharge section with cooling fluid, an endless conveyor being advanceable through this chamber and discharge section, said conveyor consisting of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links provided with carriers for a row of adjacent tins, the said conveyor in an area beyond the discharge section following a substantially horizontal track part, means being provided in said horizontal track part for spraying or clouding a heating liquid and directing these liquid particles towards the tin advancing along the track, means for subsequently jogging the adjacent tins in an upward direction, each carrier be ing constituted by a pair of adjacent profilated bars which are mutually spaced in the direction of transport, said jogging means being constituted by at least one obliquely situated rod over which the profilated bars slidingly advance.

3. A device for thermal treatment, such as pasteurization or sterilization of commodities packed in tins, the said device comprising an overpressure steam chamber having a discharge section with cooling fluid, an endless conveyor being advanceable through this chamber and discharge section, said conveyor consisting of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links provided with carriers for a row of adjacent tins, the said conveyor in an area beyond the discharge section following a substantially horizontal track part, means being provided in said horizontal track part for spraying or clouding a heated liquid and directing these liquid particles towards the tins advancing along the track, means for subsequently jogging the adjacent tins in an upward direction, means for slightly bending the pivotal connection between the links of the conveyor at a location in the horizontal track part succeeding the part where the tins are jogged.

4. A device for thermal treatment, such as pasteurization or sterilization of commodities packed in tins, the said device comprising an overpressure steam chamber having a discharge section with cooling fluid, an endless conveyor being advanceable through this chamber and discharge section, said conveyor consisting of a plurality of pivotally interconnected links provided with carriers for a row of adjacent tins, the said conveyor in an area beyond the discharge section following a substantially horizontal track part, means being provided in said horizontal track part for spraying or clouding a heated liquid and directing these liquid particles towards the tins advancing along the track, means for subsequently jogging the adjacent tins in an upward direction, each carrier being constituted by a pair of adjacent profilated bars which are mutually spaced in the direction of transport, said jogging means being constituted by at least one obliquely situated rod over which the profilated bars slightly advance, means for slightly bending the pivotal connection between the links of the conveyor at a location in the horizontal track part succeeding the part where the tins are jogged, and means for passing an air current in a transverse direction through the conveyor whereby in the last portion of the horizontal track part a sealing passage for the conveyor is provided within which the air current can flow in an opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,419,139 6/1922 Hunter 99-362 7 3,063,846 11/1962 Polin 9936l 3,071,497 1/1963 Hinson 15-94 3,165,055 1/1965 Winden 99-362 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,939 5/1949 Great Britain.

WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

W. A. SCHEEL, ROBERT W. JENKINS, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,059 May 30, 1967 Johannes B. van der Winden It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, between lines 7 and 8, insert Claims priority, application Netherlands, Dec. 23, 1964, 6414979 Signed and sealed this 4th day of November 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

2. A DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT, SUCH AS PASTEURIZATION OR STERILIZATION OF COMMODITIES PACKED IN TINS, THE SAID DEVICE COMPRISING AN OVERPRESSURE STEAM CHAMBER HAVING A DISCHARGE SECTION WITH COOLING FLUID, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BEING ADVANCEABLE THROUGH THIS CHAMBER AND DISCHARGE SECTION, SAID CONVEYOR CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED LINKS PROVIDED WITH CARRIES FOR A ROW OF ADJACENT TINS, THE SAID CONVEYOR IN AN AREA BEYOND THE DISCHARGE SECTION FOLLOWING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL TRACK PART, MEANS BEING PROVIDED IN SAID HORIZONTAL TRACK PART FOR SPRAYING OR CLOUDING A HEATING LIQUID 